I was done conforming myself to fit into an industry standard that does not inherently celebrate womens bodies.
Because you knew youd just drive to the beach after school.
The bathing suit was like a second skin.
So what I mean to say is that bathing suits meant something to me back then.
Now, we live in land-locked Ohio, where the pools dont open until Memorial Day.
Like me, my daughter is a water baby.
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Her delight always seeps into me too.
This fraught wriggling-and-moaning routine is likely familiar to others, but it seems particularly distressing this year.
For a time, I pretended nothing was different, squeezing into my ill-fitting clothing.
But the bathing suits dont lie.
I would have to get a new one.
I knew exactly what I wanted: a green retro-style maillot suit with some ruching.
Something I could wear comfortably while chasing my daughter in and out of the community pool.
I tried tankinis, ruched one-pieces, and sporty-style bikinis.
Each promised flattering lines, a clean silhouette.
Each failed to live up to its promise.
I even went into stores, braving the fluorescent lights and unflattering mirrors to try them on.
But time after time, I was dissatisfied.
At first, I thought it was my body.
But then I realized: its not me.
Its the bathing suits.
I was done conforming myself to fit into an industry standard that does not inherently celebrate womens bodies.
So I turned to the sewing community.
Sewing accounts on Instagram boast many body types, each woman looking absolutely stunning in their handmade outfits.
A number of these women were creating their own swimsuits.
The beauty of sewing your own swimsuit is the ability to fully customize the fit.
You are not trying to fit your body into somethingyou create the suit to fit your body.
This mental shift began the work of slowly but surely erasing my body shame.
You are not trying to fit your body into somethingyou create the suit to fit your body.
This mental shift began the work of slowly but surely erasing my body shame.
With a spark of hope, I bought beautiful kelly-green fabric.
I found a pattern with exactly my specifications, and I got to sewing.
Along the way, I merged sizes, and enlarged the bottom of the suit.
I tightened the halter straps to account for my smaller torso.
A few daysand some pricked fingers laterI tried on my finished suit.
I first wore it to a hotel pool, on a family trip out of town.
When I came out of the bathroom in my green suit, my daughter gasped, Mommy!
Can you make me one just like it?
That day, we played Marco Polo, laughing as we splashed water into each others faces.
We dove for those plastic rings that you throw on the floor of the pool.
Every body is a beach body, right?
Still, navigating the summer can be challenging.
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